This clever material made from fungi could save your home in a fire

Scientists often talk about fungi in ‘iceberg’ terms, in that what you see above the surface is a small fraction of what lies beneath. Dig into the dirt below a mushroom cup and you’re likely to find a vast network of mycelium, the nutrients and commun… Continue reading This clever material made from fungi could save your home in a fire→

Flame-resistant drone could save lives by flying into fires

Firefighters have a dangerous job at the best of times, but especially so when they’re first entering burning buildings. A new flame-resistant drone could help, by scouting structures to let firefighters know what they’ll be up against.Continue Reading… Continue reading Flame-resistant drone could save lives by flying into fires→

Eco-friendly, fire-resistant cladding material is made of recycled glass

Although glass is known for being fully recyclable, the US Environmental Protection Agency states that only about one third of post-consumer glass actually gets recycled. A new glass-based building cladding material could help boost that number.Continu… Continue reading Eco-friendly, fire-resistant cladding material is made of recycled glass→

German fire-resistant glass is claimed to be leaner and greener

Although fire-resistant windows do already exist, they contain a carcinogenic gel, plus their production generates a lot of waste. A new technology that works in the same basic fashion, however, is claimed to be much safer and less wasteful.Continue Re… Continue reading German fire-resistant glass is claimed to be leaner and greener→

Plant acid makes carbon fiber less flammable, more recyclable

Carbon fiber composite materials may be light and strong, but making them resistant to fire has been a bit of a challenge. Now, though, Korean scientists have discovered that a plant-derived substance both keeps them from burning and makes them easier … Continue reading Plant acid makes carbon fiber less flammable, more recyclable→